EP2133733B1 - Modulateur optique à base de l'effet électro-optique - Google Patents

Modulateur optique à base de l'effet électro-optique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2133733B1
EP2133733B1 EP08739204.9A EP08739204A EP2133733B1 EP 2133733 B1 EP2133733 B1 EP 2133733B1 EP 08739204 A EP08739204 A EP 08739204A EP 2133733 B1 EP2133733 B1 EP 2133733B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrode
optical
substrate
signal
sheet
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EP08739204.9A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP2133733A1 (fr
EP2133733A4 (fr
Inventor
Satoshi Oikawa
Junichiro Ichikawa
Yuhki Kinpara
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Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co Ltd
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Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co Ltd
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/03—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels effect or Kerr effect
    • G02F1/035—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels effect or Kerr effect in an optical waveguide structure
    • G02F1/0356—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels effect or Kerr effect in an optical waveguide structure controlled by a high-frequency electromagnetic wave component in an electric waveguide structure
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/21—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  by interference
    • G02F1/225—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  by interference in an optical waveguide structure
    • G02F1/2255—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  by interference in an optical waveguide structure controlled by a high-frequency electromagnetic component in an electric waveguide structure
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/03—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels effect or Kerr effect
    • G02F1/0305—Constructional arrangements
    • G02F1/0316—Electrodes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/03—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels effect or Kerr effect
    • G02F1/0327—Operation of the cell; Circuit arrangements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F2201/00—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00
    • G02F2201/12—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00 electrode
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F2202/00—Materials and properties
    • G02F2202/07—Materials and properties poled

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an optical control device which is an optical modulator and which includes a sheet-like substrate having an electro-optical effect and having a thickness of 10 ⁇ m or less, an optical waveguide formed in the sheet-like substrate, and a control electrode for controlling light which passes through the optical waveguide.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates an example of an optical modulator that uses a Z-cut LiNbO 3 substrate, in which reference numeral 3 indicates a buffer layer such as SiO 2 film.
  • a microwave signal is applied to the control electrode in order to control and modulate an optical wave propagating through the optical waveguide. Therefore, there is a need for achieving an impedance matching between the control electrode in the optical modulator and a signal path, such as a coaxial cable which introduces microwaves into the optical modulator, in order to allow the microwave to propagate effectively in the control electrode. For this reason, as illustrated in Fig. 1 , a type of control electrode where a signal electrode 4 is interposed between ground electrodes 5 so that a so-called coplanar control electrode has been used.
  • Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the optical waveguide is formed of a ridged waveguide 20, and the ground electrodes 5, 51, and 52 are disposed closer to the signal electrodes 4 and 41 in order to enhance an optical confinement factor of the optical waveguide and to more efficiently apply an electric field generated by the control electrode to the optical waveguide. According to this configuration, it is possible to realize a reduction in driving voltage to some degree but it is essential to reduce the driving voltage much more in order to realize a high-speed modulation in a high frequency band.
  • Patent Document 2 discloses that the substrate is interposed between the control electrodes, and the electric field is applied in a direction (corresponding to a vertical direction in the case of the Z-cut LiNbO 3 substrate illustrated in Fig. 3 ) where the efficiency of the electro-optical effect is high.
  • the optical modulator illustrated in Fig. 3 polarizes reversely the substrate having the electro-optical effect, and forms substrate regions 10A and 10B in which the respective spontaneous polarization directions (the directions of arrows in Fig. 3 ) are different from each other, and the optical waveguide 2 is formed in each of the substrate regions.
  • each optical waveguide When the electric field is applied to each optical waveguide by the common signal electrode 42 and the ground electrode 53, it is possible to generate a phase change for each optical waveguide such that the phase change of one optical waveguide is different from that of another optical waveguide. Using this differential driving, it is possible to reduce the driving voltage much more.
  • the optical waveguide and a modulating electrode are formed integrally in a very thin substrate which has a thickness of 30 ⁇ m or less (the substrate will be referred to as a "sheet-like substrate," and another substrate which has a lower dielectric constant than that of the sheet-like substrate is bonded to the sheet-like substrate, thereby lowering an effective refractive index with respect to the microwave and achieving the velocity matching between the microwave and the optical wave.
  • the control electrode having the structure as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 is formed in the optical modulator that uses such a sheet-like substrate, the above-mentioned problems still have fundamentally not been resolved.
  • the refractive index of the microwave tends to decrease if the thickness of the substrate is thin, but it is difficult to realize the velocity matching between the optical wave and the microwave.
  • the effective refractive index is about 5, which is far lower than an optimal value of 2.14.
  • the impedance tends to decrease as the substrate becomes thinner, which causes a mismatching in impedance to be large.
  • An optical modulator according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1 is known from US 2006/023288 A1 .
  • the present invention is directed to solve such problems and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical control device which is an optical modulator and which is capable not only of achieving a velocity matching between a microwave and an optical wave and an impedance matching of the microwave, but also achieving a reduction in driving voltage and providing excellent modulation efficiency.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide the optical control device which can operate stably and suppress a rise in temperature of the optical control device owing to the reduction in driving voltage, and further to provide the optical control device which can use a low-driving-voltage driving device which is inexpensive.
  • the optical control device (which is an optical modulator) includes the sheet-like substrate which has an electro-optical effect and has a thickness of 10 ⁇ m or less; the optical waveguide formed on the sheet-like substrate; and the control electrode for controlling light passing through the optical waveguide.
  • the control electrode is comprised of a first electrode and a second electrode which are arranged so as to interpose the sheet-like substrate.
  • the first electrode includes a coplanar electrode which is composed of at least a signal electrode and a ground electrode.
  • the second electrode is configured to include at least a ground electrode so as to apply an electric field to the optical waveguide in cooperation with the signal electrode of the first electrode. Therefore, it is possible to provide an optical control device capable not only of achieving a velocity matching between the microwave and the optical wave and an impedance matching of the microwaves, but also operating at a high speed.
  • the first signal electrodes of the first electrode and the second signal electrode of the second electrode are configured so as to receive modulation signals having opposite phases and apply an electric field to the optical waveguide in cooperation with each other. Therefore, it is possible to modulate the optical signals propagating through the optical waveguide more effectively and to increase the modulation efficiency.
  • an optical control device capable not only of achieving a velocity matching between the microwave and the optical wave and an impedance matching of the microwaves, but also achieving a reduction in driving voltage and performing modulation with high modulation efficiency.
  • optical control device which can operate stably and suppress a rise in temperature of the optical control device owing to the reduction in driving voltage, and further to provide the optical control device which can use a low-driving-voltage driving device which is inexpensive.
  • the optical waveguide is positioned between the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode, it is possible to dispose the respective signal electrodes closer to the optical waveguide. Therefore, the optical waves propagating in the optical waveguide can be modulated with higher modulation efficiency. In other words, it is possible to perform modulation with sufficiently high modulation efficiency at a relatively low driving voltage. Moreover, it is possible to provide the optical control device which can operate stably and suppress a rise in temperature of the optical control device owing to the further reduction in driving voltage, and further to provide the optical control device which can use a low-driving-voltage driving device which is inexpensive.
  • the second electrode includes a planar auxiliary electrode which is formed below the second signal electrode so as to be coupled with the second signal electrode.
  • the second electrode can be formed as the combination of the second signal electrode and the auxiliary electrode which are integral with each other. Therefore, as will be described in detail, by placing the second electrode on the supporting substrate and subsequently forming the sheet-like substrate, the optical waveguide, the first electrode and the like, it is possible to obtain the same optical control device satisfying the positional relationship of the signal electrode and the optical waveguide.
  • the control electrode since the control electrode includes a third electrode which is maintained at the ground potential and formed so as to be located in a lower portion of the second electrode, it is possible to control the impedance of the second signal electrode of the second electrode or the refractive index of the microwave.
  • the impedance of the second electrode (and the third electrode) and the refractive index of the microwave substantially identical to the impedance of the first electrode and the refractive index of the microwave. Therefore, by only inputting modulation signals of opposite phase under the same amplitude to the first signal electrode of the first electrode and the second signal electrode of the second electrode, it is possible to modulate the optical wave propagating through the optical waveguide with about twice modulation efficiency.
  • the optical waveguide is the ridged optical waveguide, an optical confinement factor becomes higher and it is possible to concentrate an electric field generated by the control electrode into the optical waveguide. Therefore, it is possible to realize the optical control device which operates in a lower driving voltage.
  • the buffer layer is formed at least between the sheet-like substrate and the first electrode, it is possible to dispose the control electrode much closer to the optical waveguide while suppressing a propagation loss of the optical wave propagating through the optical waveguide.
  • the signal electrode and the ground electrode are configured by either a transparent electrode or an electrode where a transparent electrode is disposed on the sheet-like substrate, it is possible to dispose the control electrode further closer to the optical waveguide while suppressing a propagation loss of the optical wave propagating through the optical waveguide, even when there is no buffer layer.
  • the low dielectric constant film is filled in recesses which are disposed on at least both sides of the ridged waveguide, it is possible to adjust the refractive index or the impedance of a microwave in the control electrode, and thus a further appropriate refractive index or impedance of the microwave can be obtained.
  • a spontaneous polarization of the sheet-like substrate including at least a portion of the optical waveguide is reversed in the optical control device according to the invention. Therefore, a differential driving of the optical control device easily can be realized by a simple control electrode or a driving circuit, and thus it is possible to reduce a driving voltage.
  • optical control device referred to on the following pages is an optical modulator.
  • Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating an example of an optical control device according to the present invention.
  • a sheet-like substrate on which an optical waveguide is to be formed is configured by a Z-cut LiNbO 3 substrate is illustrated, and only a main part of the optical control device is illustrated.
  • an optical waveguide 2 is formed in a Z-cut substrate (sheet-like substrate 1) such that control electrodes are disposed so as to interpose the sheet-like substrate 1 therebetween.
  • the control electrodes include a first electrode which is disposed on an upper side of the sheet-like substrate 1 and a second electrode which is disposed on a lower side of the sheet-like substrate 1.
  • the first electrode includes a signal electrode 4 (first signal electrode) and a ground electrode 5, and the second electrode includes a second signal electrode 54.
  • the first and second electrodes may appropriately include additional necessary electrodes such as a DC electrode other than the illustrated electrodes.
  • a straight waveguide or a Mach-Zehnder type optical waveguide incorporating therein a straight waveguide may be used as the optical waveguide.
  • the optical control device illustrated in Fig. 4 is characterized in that not only an electric field through the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5, but also an electric field through the signal electrodes 4 and 54 are applied to the optical waveguide 2. That is to say, by inputting modulation signals of opposite phases under the same amplitude to these signal electrodes, the electric field (modulation) from the signal electrode 4 and the electric field (modulation) from the signal electrode 54 can be simultaneously applied under substantially the same phase to the optical wave progagating in the optical waveguide 2. Therefore, it is possible to modulate the optical wave with higher efficiency.
  • the modulation signals are sinusoidal wave of signal frequency, by reversing the phase difference between the signal electrode 4 and the signal electrode 54, modulation can be performed on the optical waveguide 2 with high efficiency.
  • the thickness of the sheet-like substrate 1 is as extremely small as 10 ⁇ m or less, it is possible to increase the intensity of the vertical electric field to the optical waveguide 2 and thus to reduce the driving voltage.
  • the refractive index and the impedance of a microwave in the control electrode is determined by the signal electrode 4 and the electrodes 5, 54, it is possible to set the impedance value to 50 ⁇ while realizing a refractive index of 2.14 that is an optimal value for the microwave, for example.
  • the optical waveguide 2 is positioned between the signal electrodes 4 and 54, the signal electrodes 4 and 54 are positioned closer to the optical waveguide 2. Therefore, a higher electric field can be applied from the signal electrodes 4 and 54 to the optical waveguide 2, and thus it is possible further to reduce the driving voltage and perform modulation with higher efficiency.
  • the first electrode is disposed via a buffer layer 3 such as a SiO 2 film which is disposed between the first electrode and the sheet-like substrate 1.
  • the buffer layer has an effect that prevents an optical waves propagating in the optical waveguide from being absorbed or scattered by the control electrode.
  • a Si film or the like also can be formed integrally if necessary in order to reduce the pyroelectric effect of the sheet-like substrate 1.
  • the second electrode (the electrode 54) is disposed on the sheet-like substrate 1 via a low refractive index layer 31 which has a width larger than that of the signal electrode 4 of the first electrode and is formed over the entire length of the signal electrode 4. Therefore, it is possible to reduce an electrode loss and to increase an optical confinement factor. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a highly efficient modulator capable of coping with a high frequency band.
  • the optical control device of the present embodiment it is possible to provide an optical control device capable not only of achieving a velocity matching between the microwave and the optical wave and an impedance matching of the microwaves, but also achieving a reduction in driving voltage and providing excellent modulation efficiency. Moreover, it is possible to provide the optical control device which can operate stably and suppress a rise in temperature of the optical control device owing to the reduction in driving voltage, and further to provide the optical control device which can use a low-driving-voltage driving device which is inexpensive.
  • the thickness of the sheet-like substrate 1 is 10 ⁇ m or less so that not only the electric field through the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5, but also the electric field through the signal electrode 4 and the electrode 54 sufficiently can be applied to the optical waveguide 2.
  • the lower limit of the thickness of the sheet-like substrate 1 is not limited, the thickness is set to 0.7 ⁇ m, for example. If the sheet-like substrate is thnner than 0.7 ⁇ m, it is difficult to form the optical waveguide 2 having a sufficient size.
  • the sheet-like substrate 1 is bonded to the supporting substrate 7 via an adhesive layer 6 after the second electrode is formed. In this case, even when the thickness of the sheet-like substrate 1 is 10 ⁇ m or less, it is possible to secure a sufficient mechanical strength for the optical control device.
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modified example of the optical control device illustrated in Fig. 4 .
  • the second electrode includes a planar auxiliary electrode 57 which is formed below the signal electrode 54 so as to be coupled with the signal electrode 54.
  • the second electrode can be formed as the combination of the signal electrode 54 and the auxiliary electrode 57 which are integral with each other. Therefore, as illustrated in Fig. 5 , by placing the second electrode on the supporting substrate 7 and subsequently forming the sheet-like substrate 1, the optical waveguide 2, the first electrodes 4, 5 and the like, the optical waveguide 2 can be positioned between the signal electrodes 4 and 54.
  • Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view illustrating another modified example of the optical control device illustrated in Fig. 4 .
  • a third electrode 58 which is maintained at the ground potential is formed in the lower portion of the signal electrode 54 as the second electrode via the adhesive layer 6. Therefore, it is possible to control the impedance of the signal electrode 54 or the refractive index of the microwave.
  • the impedance of the signal electrode 54 (and the third electrode 58) and the refractive index of the microwave substantially identical to the impedance of the first electrodes 4 and 5 and the refractive index of the microwave. Therefore, by only inputting modulation signals of opposite phases under the same amplitude to the signal electrode 4 of the first electrode and the signal electrode 54 of the second electrode, it is possible to modulate the optical wave propagating through the optical waveguide with about twice modulation efficiency.
  • lithium niobate lithium tantalite, PLZT (lead lanthanum zirconate titanate), or quartz-based material, or a combination of these materials can be used, for example. It is particularly preferable to use crystals of lithium niobate (LN) or lithium tantalite (LT) due to their high electro-optical effect.
  • LN lithium niobate
  • LT lithium tantalite
  • the optical waveguide As a method of manufacturing the optical waveguide, it is possible to form the optical waveguide by diffusing Ti or the like into a substrate surface through a thermal diffusion method or a proton-exchange method. In addition, as described in Patent Document 5, it is possible to form the optical waveguide by forming a ridge structure on the surface of the sheet-like substrate 1 in accordance with the shape of the optical waveguide.
  • the control electrode such as the signal electrode or the ground electrode can be formed through the formation of an electrode pattern of Ti/Au and a plated gold film, etc.
  • ITO or a compound oxide film of In and Ti which is an infrared-transparent conductive film is available.
  • the transparent electrode can be formed through the formation of the electrode pattern using photolithography technique and then using lift-off technique, or the formation of the electrode pattern using a mask member commensurate with the shape of the electrode pattern using dry etching or wet etching (see Patent Document 5).
  • the above-mentioned optical waveguide is formed on a substrate having a thickness of several hundreds ⁇ m, and a rear surface of the substrate is polished, so that the sheet-like substrate having a thickness of 10 ⁇ m or less is prepared. Thereafter, a control electrode is formed on a top surface of the sheet-like substrate.
  • a process that is likely to involve these thermal or mechanical impacts is performed before the substrate is polished to obtain the sheet-like substrate.
  • Various materials can be used for the suppoting substrate 7.
  • materials having a lower dielectric constant than the sheet-like substrate such as quartz, glass, or alumina, or materials having a different crystal orientation from the sheet-like substrate.
  • materials having a linear expansion coefficient equivalent to that of the sheet-like substrate it is preferable to select and use materials having a linear expansion coefficient equivalent to that of the sheet-like substrate.
  • a material having a linear expansion coefficient equivalent to that of the sheet-like substrate is selected and used for an adhesive for bonding the sheet-like substrate and the supporting substrate.
  • Figs. 7 to 9 illustrate an application of the optical control device illustrated in Fig. 4 , which is an example of where the optical waveguide is formed by a ridged waveguide. Since the optical waveguide is formed as the ridged optical waveguide, an optical confinement factor becomes higher and it is possible to concentrate an electric field generated by the control electrode into the optical waveguide. Therefore, it is possible to realize the optical control device which operates in a lower driving voltage.
  • the optical waveguide of the optical control device is formed as a ridged waveguide 20, whereby the optical wave propagating in the optical waveguide is confined in the ridge portion 20. Since the electric field generated by the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5 and the electric field generated by the signal electrodes 4 and 54 are intensively applied to the ridge portion 20, it contributes to a reduction in driving transmission of the optical control device.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates that two optical waveguides 2 are formed as ridged waveguides 20.
  • the signal electrodes 4 and 41 are disposed so as to correspond to the ridged waveguides, and signals of opposite directions are applied to the signal electrodes. For example, when an attention is paied to the left ridge portion 20, the electric field generated by the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5, the electric field generated by the signal electrodes 4 and 54, and further the electric field generated by the signal electrode 4 and the signal electrode 41 are intensively applied to the left ridge portion 20.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates that two optical waveguides 2 are formed as the ridged waveguides 20, and a ridge portion corresponding to the ground electrode 51 is formed between the two optical waveguides.
  • the signal electrodes 4 and 41 are disposed so as to correspond to the ridged waveguides 20, and independent signals are applied to the signal electrodes, respectively.
  • the electric field generated by the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5 the electric field generated by the signal electrodes 4 and 54, and further the electric field generated by the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 51 are intensively applied to the left ridge portion 20.
  • Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate another application of the optical control device illustrated in Fig. 4 , which is an example of where a low dielectric constant film is disposed in a recess that forms the ridged waveguide and between the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5 which constitute the first electrode.
  • a low dielectric constant film is disposed in a recess that forms the ridged waveguide and between the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5 which constitute the first electrode.
  • benzocyclobutene (BCB) or the like can be used, and as a method of manufacturing the low dielectric constant film, a coating method can be used.
  • a low dielectric constant film 8 can be formed so as to cover recesses formed on both sides of the ridged waveguide 20, portions between the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5, or the first electrode.
  • a power feeding portion 42 of the signal electrode 4 is disposed across a portion of the ground electrode 5, and the low dielectric constant film 8 is disposed between the ground electrode 4 and the power feeding portion 42. Therefore, the control electrode can be wired in three dimensions, and thus the degree of flexibility in wiring design related to the control electrode can be increased.
  • the ground electrode may be formed so as to pass through a position above the signal electrode (location away from the sheet-like substrate).
  • Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a further application of the optical control device illustrated in Fig. 4 , which is an example of where the optical waveguide 2 (the ridged waveguide 20) is formed on the rear surface (the lower side in the drawing) of the sheet-like substrate 1.
  • the optical waveguide 2 is formed on the rear surface of the sheet-like substrate 1
  • the signal electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5, which are the first electrode are formed on the top surface of the sheet-like substrate.
  • the electrode 54 which is the second electrode, is formed on the rear surface of the sheet-like substrate 1, it is possible to apply an electric field, especially, the electric field generated by the signal electrode 4 and the electrode 54, to the ridge portion 20.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates an example of where two signal electrodes 4 and 41 are used, in which the left ridge portion 20 is applied with the electric field generated by the signal electrodes 4 and 54, and the right ridge portion 20 is applied with the electric field generated by the signal electrode 41 and the electrode 54.
  • a low dielectric constant film 81 may be formed in the recesses which form the ridge portions 20, if necessary.
  • Figs. 14 to 16 illustrate a still further application of the optical control device illustrated in Fig. 4 , which is an example of where transparent electrodes 9 and 91 to 94 are used as the electrode.
  • transparent electrodes 9 and 91 to 94 are used as the electrode.
  • Fig. 14 illustrates an example of where a transparent electrode 9 is used as the signal electrode of the second electrode
  • Fig. 15 illustrates an example of where transparent electrodes 91 and 92 are used as the first electrode.
  • a buffer layer 3 illustrated in Fig. 14 is not necessary, and it is possible to dispose the electrode closer to the optical waveguide.
  • the ground electrode (the transparent electrode 91) constituting the first electrode illustrated in Fig. 15 may be formed by a general metal electrode because there is no optical waveguide in the vicinity of the electrode.
  • Fig. 16 illustrates an example of where the transparent electrode is used in a part (a side being in contact with the sheet-like substrate 1 or 11) of the control electrode.
  • the transparent electrode since the transparent electrode has a high electrical resistivity compared to the metal electrode of Au or the like, it is possible to dispose the metal electrodes 140, 150, and 151 so as to be in contact with the transparent electrodes 9 or 93 to 96 for the purpose of reducing an electrical resistance of an electrode.
  • Fig. 16 illustrates an example of where a Z-cut LiNbO 3 substrate is used as the sheet-like substrate.
  • Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate a further application of the optical control device illustrated in Fig. 4 , which is an example of where the sheet-like substrate 1 is polarized reversely. Since the spontaneous polarization of the sheet-like substrate 1 including at least a portion of the optical waveguide is reversed, a differential driving of the optical control device can easily be realized by a simple control electrode or a driving circuit, and thus it is also possible to reduce a driving voltage.
  • the spontaneous polarizations are generated in substrate regions 12 and 13 of the sheet-like substrate 1 (indicated by arrows in the drawing) so that the polarization direction of the region 12 is ooposite to the polarization direction of the region 13.
  • the signal electrode 43 constituting the first electrode is able to apply a common electric field to the optical waveguides 2 which are formed in the substrate regions 12 and 13. Since the directions of polarization in the substrates are different from each other in the respective optical waveguides, a phase change of the optical wave propagating in the respective optical waveguides is reversed each other and, as a result, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that in the differential driving.
  • Fig. 18 illustrates an example of where the directions of polarization in the substrate regions 12 and 13 of the sheet-like substrate 1 are adjusted to be different, and a ridged optical waveguide is used.
  • the same signal electrodes 44 are used for applying the electric field to the two ridged waveguides 20, and the two signal electrodes 44 are electrically connected by a connection path 45.
  • the low dielectric constant film 8 is formed on the recesses that form the ridged waveguides or between the signal electrode and the ground electrode 5.
  • the optical control device of the present invention it is possible to provide an optical control device capable not only of achieving a velocity matching between the microwave and the optical wave and an impedance matching of the microwaves, but also achieving a reduction in driving voltage and providing high modulation efficiency. Moreover, it is possible to provide the optical control device which can operate stably and suppress a rise in temperature of the optical control device owing to the reduction in driving voltage, and further to provide the optical control device which can use a low-driving-voltage driving device which is inexpensive.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Optical Modulation, Optical Deflection, Nonlinear Optics, Optical Demodulation, Optical Logic Elements (AREA)
  • Optical Integrated Circuits (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Modulateur optique comprenant :
    un substrat de type feuille (1) qui possède un effet électro-optique et qui présente une épaisseur inférieure ou égale à 10 µm ;
    un guide d'onde optique (2) formé sur le substrat de type feuille (1) ; et
    des électrodes de commande (4, 5, 54) destinées à commander la lumière passant à travers le guide d'onde optique (2),
    dans lequel les électrodes de commande (4, 5, 54) comprennent un premier ensemble d'électrodes (4, 5) qui est disposé sur le substrat de type feuille (1), et un deuxième ensemble d'électrodes (54) qui est disposé sous le substrat de type feuille (1), qui sont disposés de sorte que le substrat de type feuille (1) soit intercalé entre le premier ensemble d'électrodes (4, 5) et le deuxième ensemble d'électrodes (54) ;
    dans lequel le premier ensemble d'électrodes (4, 5) comprend un ensemble d'électrodes coplanaires qui est composé d'au moins une première électrode de signal (4) et une électrode de terre (5) ; et
    dans lequel le deuxième ensemble d'électrodes (54) comprend au moins une deuxième électrode de signal (54), caractérisé en ce que le modulateur optique comprend, en outre, des premier et deuxième moyens destinés à produire des premier et deuxième signaux de modulation, respectivement, les premier et deuxième moyens étant électriquement reliés aux première et deuxième électrodes de signal (4, 54), respectivement,
    dans lequel lorsque les premier et deuxième signaux de modulation sont appliqués aux première et deuxième électrodes de signal (4, 54), respectivement, les signes des champs électriques respectifs associés aux premier et deuxième signaux de modulation, respectivement, sont opposés l'un à l'autre et leur rapport d'amplitude est constant, de sorte que les première et deuxième électrodes de signal (4, 54) appliquent un champ électrique au guide d'onde optique en coopération l'une avec l'autre.
  2. Modulateur optique selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le guide d'onde optique (2) est un guide d'onde optique gravé.
  3. Modulateur optique selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la première électrode de signal (4) du premier ensemble d'électrodes (4, 5), et la deuxième électrode de signal (54) du deuxième ensemble d'électrodes (54) sont disposées de sorte que le guide d'onde optique soit positionné entre la première électrode de signal (4) et la deuxième électrode de signal (54).
  4. Modulateur optique selon la revendication 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le deuxième ensemble d'électrodes (54) comprend, en outre, une électrode auxiliaire plane (57) qui est formée au-dessous de la deuxième électrode de signal (54), de manière à être couplée à la deuxième électrode de signal (54).
  5. Modulateur optique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que les électrodes de commande (4, 5, 54) comprennent une troisième électrode (58) qui est maintenue au potentiel de la terre et qui est disposée de façon à se trouver au-dessous du deuxième ensemble d'électrodes (54).
  6. Modulateur optique selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'un film à faible constante diélectrique (8) remplit des évidements qui sont ménagés au moins des deux côtés du guide d'onde gravé (2).
  7. Modulateur optique selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'une couche tampon (3) est disposée au moins entre le substrat de type feuille (1) et le premier ensemble d'électrodes (4, 5).
  8. Modulateur optique selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le premier ensemble d'électrodes (4, 5) et le deuxième ensemble d'électrodes (54) sont transparents.
  9. Modulateur optique selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la polarisation spontanée du substrat de type feuille (1) comprenant au moins une partie du guide d'onde optique (2) est inversée.
EP08739204.9A 2007-03-30 2008-03-28 Modulateur optique à base de l'effet électro-optique Not-in-force EP2133733B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2007092750A JP4187771B2 (ja) 2007-03-30 2007-03-30 光制御素子
PCT/JP2008/056086 WO2008120718A1 (fr) 2007-03-30 2008-03-28 Élément de commande de lumière

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EP2133733A1 EP2133733A1 (fr) 2009-12-16
EP2133733A4 EP2133733A4 (fr) 2012-06-13
EP2133733B1 true EP2133733B1 (fr) 2017-09-20

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US (1) US8600197B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP2133733B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP4187771B2 (fr)
CN (1) CN101669061B (fr)
WO (1) WO2008120718A1 (fr)

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Publication number Publication date
WO2008120718A1 (fr) 2008-10-09
US8600197B2 (en) 2013-12-03
JP4187771B2 (ja) 2008-11-26
CN101669061B (zh) 2013-03-13
CN101669061A (zh) 2010-03-10
EP2133733A1 (fr) 2009-12-16
EP2133733A4 (fr) 2012-06-13
US20100046880A1 (en) 2010-02-25
JP2008250081A (ja) 2008-10-16

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